Day #287

Sermon - Audio
Matt 13 & Luke 8 - Reading
Matt 13 & Luke 8 - Audio

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Matt 13 - kingdom, kingdom, kingdom

Notes on the Parable of the Soils:

Matthew groups Jesus’ teaching into five major discourses, and the parables in chapter 13 constitute the third of these collections. Of these parables, few are more well known than the parable of the sower (vv. 1–9, 18–23).

Though this parable is more commonly named after the sower of the seed, the “parable of the soils” is a more fitting title. The role of the sower in the story is important, but the parable’s point is twofold: first, to explain why different soils — different people — respond differently to the Gospel and, second, to invite us to examine ourselves to think about the kind of soil we hope to be.

The parable and its explanation are straightforward enough. All of the first three people portrayed are ultimately hard in heart, but the hardness is especially clear in the person described in verses 4 and 19 since that individual never shows an interest in the Gospel. His heart is calcified to the point where it resists all penetration by the seed, which is devoured by the Evil One and his minions, who were often represented by birds in first-century Jewish literature.

Those who fall away after professing faith are represented by the second and third soils. Without solid rooting in good soil, plants will wither and die under the sun’s heat (vv. 5–6). Similarly, some people appear to be thriving believers until persecution reveals their true colors (vv. 20–21), just like those in the first century who left Jesus when the going got tough (Heb. 3:12). Others, like vegetation choked by weeds, are strangled by the cares of this world and the love of money (Matt. 13:7, 22). This is an especially dreadful fate, for the one ensnared in such things does not usually know his predicament until it is too late, considering himself Christ’s follower even though he serves his riches (Mark 10:17–22).

Yet the fourth soil is notably different. This one understands and bears fruit — he accepts and conforms his life to the Gospel (Matt. 13:8–9, 23). The presence of fruit, not its quantity, is what matters. John Calvin says, “The fertility of that soil which yields a thirty-fold produce is small compared with that which yields a hundred-fold…[but Jesus] classes together all kinds of soil which do not entirely disappoint the labors and expectations of the husbandman.”

-Ligonier Ministries-

“Thus the parables spoke to the crowds do not simply convey information, nor mask it, but challenge the hearers.” - Carson-

Notes on the Corruption of the Kingdom Community:

*The idea is that they would not go pull the "tares" because they would pull the crops with it. At the final harvest they will be sorted out.

Notes on the Parable of the Mustard Seed:

Jesus is the beginning of this growth within his kingdom. He is planting a seed that will continue to grow.

*Mustard Plants never really grow beyond being a bush, obviously here Jesus sees much more.

*A "tree" was sometimes symbolic of empires within the O.T (Eze 17:23, Daniel 4, etc)

Notes on the Parable of the leaven:

*The bread used at Passover was unleavened (Exodus 12:8, 12:15-20)

*The amount of leaven used here was enough to feed 100 people.

*Jesus is most likely telling people that there will be corruption being inserted into this kingdom community.

Notes on other kingdom parables:

*Treasure & Pearl - Once we have seen/found this kingdom, we will give up everything of value to us to follow after it.

*Dragnet - The wicked and the just will be separated at the end of the age.

Ending

*Scribes are Teachers. In a way we are all teachers whether that be in a classroom, church building, or in our homes. It is our responsibility for people to know the importance of the kingdom and kingdom living.

*Jesus goes back to His hometown, but the people can not accept Him. This is understandable as they had watched Jesus grow up as "any other child" had.

Luke 8

Notes on Parable of Soils - Look at Notes above from Matt 13 &...

1. Those who receive the Word are responsible to share it with others through their lives and words.

2. Those who receive the Word are accountable to it.

3. Those who receive the Word show that they truly have by being obedient to Jesus.

Notes on calming of the storm:

*The disciples are thrown into chaos that is outside of their control. They know that Jesus can rescue them, but they don't yet understand that Jesus has control over even the storm they are in.

Notes on demon possessed man:

*The demon knows and recognizes Jesus.

*The demons inhabiting this man did not want to be imprisoned in the abyss, which is the bottomless pit described in Revelation 9:11

*They allowed the demon possessed man to stay around, but not Jesus. He was a detriment to their economy and way of life.

*The man's reaction is the opposite. He goes throughout his town proclaiming what Christ had done for him. The man told his story, and there is no telling what influence he had.